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Scotland is blessed with some of the most precious and special natural environments in the world, environments that have evolved through a long partnership between people and nature.
Shetland
The sea and the northerly latitude have both left an indelible imprint on the culture, landscape and wildlife of these remote and rugged islands. Standing 150km north east of the Scottish mainland, Shetland is constantly influenced by the forces of nature.
Northern Highlands
Loch Ness, one of Scotland's best loved visitor attractions, is bordered by a rugged world of hill country. This is an inspiring landscape, with mountains held apart by a series of long parallel glens, and broader straths cloaked with pine and birch woods. There is much to treasure here for those who love wildlife and the great outdoors.
Orkney and Caithness
Sea and landscapes intertwine in a scenically stunning corner of Scotland. This is an area shaped by the forces of nature - and by the hand of man. World famous archaeology provides the clearest of evidence that people have found this a productive place to live since Neolithic (late stone-age) times. Farming remains a cornerstone of the local economy, with Orkney renowned for the quality of its beef cattle.
Coll, Tiree and the Western Isles
Chains of islands famed for their wildlife. Each has a character of its own. But all have an addictive charm for those who enjoy the natural world and breathtaking coastal scenery. Low intensity agriculture, in the form of crofting, encourages wildlife to thrive. Coll, Tiree and many of the Western Isles are blessed with machair, one of Europe's rarest habitats. Here a spectacular array of flowers bloom on wind-blown shell sand and, in turn, provide breeding sites for vast numbers of wading birds. Corncrakes have all but disappeared from farmland elsewhere, but make their presence felt in the Uists, Coll and Tiree with distinctive rasping calls as male birds seek a mate.
The Peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland
Blanket bog forms a 400 000 hectare (990 000 acre) shroud covering much of this area. It may not sound glamorous, but it is one of Scotland's most important habitats.
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